Photo: Bernard DUPONT from FRANCE / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Martial Eagle
Polemaetus bellicosus
Martial Eagle (Polemaetus bellicosus) — Birds of Prey of Africa.
Found across 6 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Martial Eagle (Polemaetus bellicosus) is a member of the Accipitridae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 4 kg. The IUCN Red List lists it as Endangered.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Accipitriformes
- Family Accipitridae Kites, Hawks, Eagles
- Genus Polemaetus
- Species bellicosus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 4 kg
- Diet
- Vertebrate hunters
- Family
- Accipitridae
- Order
- Accipitriformes
- Habitat
- Grassland & open country
How to identify
Similar birds
Near Threatened
Endangered
Endangered
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Martial Eagle preys mainly on other vertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of open grassland, it is highly aerial, spending much of its time on the wing.
Migration
The Martial Eagle is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Martial Eagle (Polemaetus bellicosus) is a member of the Accipitridae family, within the order Accipitriformes. Its range spans Africa. Its distribution covers AF widespread.
It is a very large bird. Adults weighs around 4 kg, with a wing length of about 57.2 cm and a tail of around 25.6 cm.
It is classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern. Endangered species face a very high risk of extinction in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 14.9 million km² — a very large global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Martial Eagle?
The Martial Eagle is a very large bird that weighs around 4 kg.
Where does the Martial Eagle live?
The Martial Eagle is found across Africa with a range covering AF widespread, where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the Martial Eagle belong to?
The Martial Eagle (Polemaetus bellicosus) belongs to the Accipitridae family, in the order Accipitriformes.
What does the Martial Eagle eat?
The Martial Eagle preys mainly on other vertebrates.
Does the Martial Eagle migrate?
The Martial Eagle is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Martial Eagle endangered?
It is classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern Endangered species face a very high risk of extinction in the wild.
What sound does the Martial Eagle make?
1 real field recording of the Martial Eagle — including its begging call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Martial Eagle's range?
The Martial Eagle has a mapped global range of about 14.9 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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Guides for this bird
Meet the Accipitridae
A field guide to the Accipitridae family — 254 species in the Birbs encyclopedia, with the best-known members to start with.